Charles Fox composed the theme songs for some of the most popular TV shows of the 1960s and 1970s, including The Love Boat, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Wonder Woman.
At a Glance
- Fox also wrote the original Monday Night Football theme and coined “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat”
- He penned the Grammy-winning hit “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” which reached No. 1 twice
- The composer donated personal papers to the Library of Congress and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2024
- Why it matters: His melodies have played in living rooms for decades, shaping pop-culture memories
The man behind beloved sitcom themes also scored sports television. Fox composed the Monday Night Football opener and the Wide World of Sports theme, turning the phrase “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” into a national catchphrase.
From Sitcoms to Sports Anthems
Fox’s television work spans genres. He crafted the nautical sounds for The Love Boat, the 1950s bounce for Happy Days, and the heroic fanfare for Wonder Woman. Each theme became instantly recognizable, anchoring the viewing experience for millions.
Beyond TV, Fox wrote pop classics. “Killing Me Softly with His Song” topped the charts twice-first for Roberta Flack in 1973 and again for the Fugees in 1996. The single earned him Grammy recognition and cemented his place in music history.
Library of Congress Archive
According to the latest issue of the Library of Congress Magazine, Fox donated a selection of his papers to the Library’s Music Division. The collection includes original sketches and notes he made while composing themes, offering scholars a window into his creative process.
Fox scored more than 100 feature films and TV movies and received two Academy Award nominations for original songs from The Other Side of the Mountain and Foul Play.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Honor
In 2024, Fox received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk of Fame, stated in a release: “Charles Fox’s contributions to the music industry are undeniable, and it is the honor of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to immortalize his legacy on the iconic Walk of Fame.”
The star sits in front of the Musicians Institute on Hollywood Boulevard.
Creative Philosophy
In an earlier interview for Rough Draft Atlanta, Fox described his approach: “Most of the things that I’ve done I’ve been for characters, either in shows, in a stage show, where each one has a personality, and there’s a meaning for the song. There’s a reason, a raison d’être, for the song.”
He added, “So I’ve usually written, in my case, many television theme songs. So there’s always a reason for it, it’s not just writing a nice song. The notes never stop for me. I always hear the music.”
Key Takeaways
- Charles Fox’s themes defined eras of television, from sitcoms to sports
- His work spans genres and generations, uniting families around TV sets
- The donation of his papers preserves decades of American music history
- A star on Hollywood Boulevard now marks his enduring cultural impact
